Indiana basketball vs. Bethune-Cookman: Who was the Hoosiers MVP?

The Hoosiers downed Bethune-Cookman 101-49 and one Indiana basketball player was the MVP of Thursday night’s win — freshman guard, Jalen Hood-Schifino.

Stat line vs. Bethune-Cookman: 27 MIN | 8 PTS | 2/8 FG | 0/5 3P | 4/5 FT | 5 REB | 8 AST | 2 STL | 1 PF | 3 TOV

The five-star freshman was easily the best playmaker on the floor for both teams, as he finished with a game-high and career-high eight assists. Now many of those assists were passed to Miller Kopp, who knocked down four three-pointers in Thursday’s win.

Through the first two games of the season, Hood-Schifino has the highest plus/minus on the team at +62, while the next highest plus/minus from the starting five is Xavier Johnson at +32.

Many Indiana basketball fans might have thought that Trayce Jackson-Davis, who finished with 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting, would have earned the MVP honors in this game. But, from my vantage point, it was a very quiet and non-impactful 20-point game from the Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.

It might be unfair to have such high expectations from the senior leader, but what he’s done in the first two games this season has not been up to the standards that I expected from him.

The one downside of this game for Hood-Schifino was his shooting performance. Going 2-for-8 from the field and 0-for-5 from deep is unacceptable in a game against a major conference opponent. As he continues to look for and find his shot against college defenses, Hood-Schifino will remain the best playmaker on the floor for the Hoosiers.

No. 12 Indiana basketball takes on unranked (receiving votes) Xavier on Friday, and if Hood-Schifino shows up, makes plays, and knocks down shots from the mid-range, the Hoosiers should have no problem walking out of Cincinnati with their first true road win of the season.